Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Otsego, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Otsego, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,596 in Otsego, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,811 in Otsego, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,092 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,027 in Otsego, MN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Otsego, MN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Otsego, MN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Otsego, MN by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$20.70 $20.70

-4.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$81.4 $81.4

8.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$11.78 $11.78

12.31%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$3.96 $3.96

47.98%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.94 $2.94

-11.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.26 $2.26

2.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$5.62 $5.62

25.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$8.11 $8.11

14.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.85 $0.85

57.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.68 $2.68

56.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$7.02 $7.02

-21.65%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$3.98 $3.98

18.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$10.17 $10.17

44.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$14.15 $14.15

2.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$19.08 $19.08

3.20%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.96 $5.96

-5.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.85 $1.85

6.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$6.51 $6.51

-37.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.30 $4.30

17.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$4.29 $4.29

-31.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.88 $3.88

-24.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.24 $2.24

1.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.68 $2.68

16.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$13.07 $13.07

23.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$16.23 $16.23

-6.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.85 $2.85

-6.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$5.76 $5.76

-39.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.90 $1.90

33.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$4.92 $4.92

-35.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.74 $1.74

-21.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$23.75 $23.75

-4.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.98 $0.98

22.45%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.0K $37.0K

$36.3K $36.3K

2.08%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.84%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$190 $190

$156 $156

21.46%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$68.5 $68.5

$44.93 $44.93

52.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$59.1 $59.1

3.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$41.86 $41.86

52.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$16.26 $16.26

12.42%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,525 $1,525

$1,380 $1,380

10.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$36.1K $36.1K

-11.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$57.7 $57.7

10.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$44.91 $44.91

21.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$97.2 $97.2

3.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$107 $107

42.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,609 $1,609

50.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,271 $1,271

33.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,475 $2,475

85.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,166 $2,166

28.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,431 $2,431

71.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,371 $2,371

15.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$3,486 $3,486

37.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.27

1.75%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Otsego, MN: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,609 in Otsego, MN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 37% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $81.0 in Otsego, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $446 – making Otsego, MN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Otsego, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL, $2,596 in Otsego, MN – roughly 20% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,659 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,894 in Otsego, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Otsego, MN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $81.0 in Otsego, MN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,106 in Chicago, IL and $2,596 in Otsego, MN. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,596 in Otsego, MN to $3,106 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Otsego, MN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.